Faithful Stewardship (Luke 16:1-15): An Important Part of the Solution to Corruption in Nigeria

Abstract

The concept of faithfulness in the management of sacred and economic resources could be seen at the center of Jesus’ parable in Luke 16:1-15. Although the parable could be seen as crux interpretum, it drove home the intended message in the conclusive part. While the kurios (master) and oikonomon (manager) were at the center of economic distribution and management, the masses were at their mercies for survival. Therefore, using evaluative model as a method, this paper aimed at the examination and evaluation of the Palestinian economic situation underlying Luke 16:1-16 as against the socio-economic situation in Nigeria and to apply the positive lessons learnt as part of the solution to the situation of corruption in Nigerian. The work showed that greed and dishonesty were seen in both  the immediate (Palestinian) and contemporary (Nigerian) contextual milieus. All of these amounted to moral and economic corruption and it manifested itself mismanagement of resources. Luke 16:1-15 was reconstructed to anchor the lessons of proper management of cooperate resources, accountability, fidelity and honesty abhorring of greed for Nigerian leaders. This paper argued that imbibing the culture of faithful stewardship by Nigerian leaders at all spheres of leadership can help in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. This work was concluded on the presupposition that when all of these lessons learnt are applied in Nigeria, it will compel her political, traditional, civic and even religious leaders to be accountability conscious.